TCLC One Book One Community to Launch 2024 Programming

The Tuscarawas County Literacy Coalition is thrilled to announce its annual One Book One Community (OBOC) events for 2024, centered around the novel “Things Seen from Above” by Shelley Pearsall. This year’s programming features a variety of engaging activities designed to foster a love for reading and creative expression throughout the community.

Art Contest (Sponsored by the Tuscarawas County Literacy Coalition) The Tuscarawas County Literacy Coalition is sponsoring an art contest inviting students to create a “bird’s eye view” art piece. The contest is open to two age categories: Grades 5-8 and High School. Submissions are due by Friday, October 18, and should be delivered to local libraries. The first place winner will be featured as the cover artist for the final event program. Winners will be announced during the OBOC event on Monday, November 4, at Kent State University at Tuscarawas (KSU Tusc).

Writing Contest (Sponsored by the Tuscarawas County Writers’ Guild) In collaboration with the Tuscarawas County Writers’ Guild, a writing contest themed “On the Fringes of Society: How did you deal with feeling like an outsider?” is open to high school students (grades 9-12) and adults (19+). The contest, with a maximum word count of 3,000, opened on August 30, with a submission deadline of Saturday, October 5. Winners will be announced before October 23, with prizes awarded during the Monday, November 4, event at KSU Tusc.

Local StoryWalks (Sponsored by Dover Public Library & TCPLS) In addition, the Dover Public Library and Tuscarawas County Public Library System will host StoryWalks featuring picture books that coincide with “Things Seen from Above” by Shelley Pearsall that offer a fun, outdoor reading experience for families. Contact your local library for locations.

“Things Seen from Above” Book Club Discussions. Community members are encouraged to participate in continuous book discussions throughout September and October, focused on the book “Things Seen from Above” by Shelley Pearsall. These discussions will take place at various local libraries and venues, offering an opportunity for readers of all ages to engage in meaningful dialogue. For more details on event times and locations, please visit the One Book One Community Facebook page or contact your local library.

Literacy Connections Day at KSU Tusc on Friday, November 1, from 10:00AM to 1:30PM, Kent State University of Tuscarawas will host a special Literacy Connections Day targeting students in grades 5-8. The event will feature a live Zoom presentation from author Shelley Pearsall, group activities for extended learning, and the presentation of Middle School Art and Essay Awards. Lunch will be provided.

Final Culminating Event at KSU Tusc The community is invited to the final culminating event on Monday, November 4, at 7:00PM in the Founders Hall of Kent State University of Tuscarawas. This event will feature another live Zoom presentation from author Shelley Pearsall, alongside the presentation of High School and Adult Art and Essay Awards.

About One Book One Community One Book, One Community is a reading initiative that strives to create conversation and bridge differences through the shared experience of reading the same book. By creating conversation, people discover that they have more in common with each other than they think! More information at the One Book One Community Facebook page or by visiting www.tuscliteracy.org